A High Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital on Tuesday restrained the State House of Assembly and its agents from suspending and investigating Hon. Saheed Popoola, the only opposition member in the Assembly.

Popoola, who represents Balogun/Ojomu Constituency of Offa in the Assembly is the only lawmaker who stayed back in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and refused to defect with 23 other members of the Assembly to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Following Popoola’s refusal to defect, the House of Assembly commenced processes to investigate his certificate which was said to be irregular, accusing him of forgery as well as issuing threats to suspend him.

Popoola then headed to the court to challenge the decision of the House of Assembly through a thirty two-paragraph affidavit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Barrister Ayinla Jawondo in suit no KWS/103/2018 against other members of the assembly as well as the Speaker.

“The defendants have no power to suspend the claimant and or truncate and or in any way interfere with the claimant’s tenure and performance based on criminal allegations of forgery of educational qualifications submitted by the claimant,” the affidavit read in part.

Delivering his judgment after hearing the motion, Justice T. S. Umar ruled that: “The defendants/respondents and or any person or group of persons acting on their behalf are hereby restrained from investigating, inquiring into, determining and or taking any step as legislative house on criminal allegations of forgery of educational qualification(s) submitted by the claimant for election and issuance of dud/bounced cheques made against the claimant.

“The defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from suspending the claimant/applicant and or truncating and or in any way interfering with claimant/applicant’s tenure and performance and enjoyment of his legislative functions and duties, pertaining to his office.”

The case has been adjourned to August 17, 2018 for hearing.